Even the most experienced traveller can overlook packing the essentials. Packpoint helps finetune your packing approach with a series of questions – where you’re going, for how long, what time of year and what activities are involved – to help curate a personalised list that you can then tailor to suit your itinerary. It also segments your packing list into trip-specific sections, such as ‘work‘ or ‘activities’, so you can be sure you’ve crossed every T(shirt) and dotted every I. Free. iOS and Android.

With all your travel essentials in one place – from plane tickets to hotel bookings and your digital Qantas Frequent Flyer card – the Qantas app is a seamless way to manage your next trip. Its newest feature is Inbound Flight Tracking, which gives users the ability to check the status of an inbound aircraft (especially helpful when following a loved one’s journey home). It’s also a great resource for all sorts of additional information you might want to know before you depart, such as the plane type, the entertainment selection and guides to help you navigate airports and lounges at your departure locations. You can also manage multiple trips while on the go, reserve accommodation and link points-earning partners to maximise your travel opportunities. Free. iOS and Android.

Haven’t mastered polyglot status yet? Fear not: with Google Translate’s intelligent translation software, you’ll be reading foreign menus and directions like a pro with a few quick clicks or a snap of your phone’s camera. Use it to instantly scan and translate blocks of text and images or write and speak words directly into the app to rapidly converse with locals . So far, it covers 133 languages. Pro-tip: save common phrases or directions within the app so you’ll have the right words right when you need them – and, if they’re pre-downloaded languages, you don’t even need wi-fi to access them while out and about. Free. iOS and Android.

You know how Google Maps helps you out at home. Did you know that Google Maps also shows a ‘busyness’ indicator for popular landmarks and restaurants? CityMapper, another clever mapping tool, optimises your journey to give you the quickest route from point A to point B, be it on foot, bike or by taxi. It’ll be with you no matter where you go – it’s available in over 400 cities and can be synced with your calendar (and reservations) so you can get everywhere you need to go on time. Free. iOS and Android.

Travelling with a group can make finance management tricky. Splitwise makes sure no one gets shortchanged (or overcharged) on your next big getaway. With features including balance tracking, timestamped expense organisation and the ability to split charges equally or by exact amounts, the app takes the hassle out of tracking money, so you can spend less time staring at receipts and more time enjoying the meal. The Pro version also comes with instant currency conversion and receipt scanning. Free, in-app purchases. iOs and Android.

If adventure and outdoor exploration are key components of your holiday, don’t leave home without downloading AllTrails. With over 450,000 trails listed (many verified and updated by members of the app’s global community), AllTrails offers searchable tracks for hiking, walking, running, mountain-biking and cycling; shares your location with trusted contacts via the Live Share feature; and, for those more off-the-grid hikes, can even be used offline with downloadable maps that track your GPS location. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

A handy one-stop-shop for itineraries and reservations, TripIt is the holy grail for travellers with a tight schedule to maintain. With the premium version, you’ll get up-to-the-minute delay and disruption notifications; real-time risk alerts and gate-change information; and on-the-ground country-specific insights and airport guides, helping all your travels run smoothly. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

If you’re less about translating on the go and more interested in immersing yourself in a new country’s language and culture, set yourself up for success with this app, which gamifies the studying experience to create an engaging platform for learning. Download Duolingo a few weeks (or months) out from your trip and start your educational journey; you can use it on your smartphone as well as on a desktop web browser. The app has over 40 languages to choose from, so you’ll be saying “where is my green cup?” in the local language in no time. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

The Calm app is designed to make the journey as relaxing as the destination, from guided meditation sessions to quick two-minute resets before embarking on a new day in your latest destination. The app has a limited free version as well as a paid premium version, which offers a suite of meditations, sleep stories and kid-friendly additions. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

Stay ahead of Mother Nature with this hyper-local weather forecast app that outlines all the need-to-know meteorological details, from storm alerts to precipitation projections and pollen count. Use the Live Radar to watch impending weather systems and storm surges that could affect flights and travel itineraries, and plan your outdoor adventures with the Allergy Outlook function. The app even projects weather conditions 45 days in advance, so you can holiday with confidence. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

You’re exploring a new place. Have you ever considered exploring that location’s unique astronomical view? With Night Sky (iOS only), ‘a stargazing guide to the sky’, you’ll be able to locate constellations and planets overhead by simply pointing your phone to the sky to see which of the app’s 1.7 billion catalogued stars are sitting pretty above you. You can also discover which celestial events are visible from your location and utilise it in bigger, brighter cities regardless of light pollution. If you’re stargazing on an Android device, Stellarium Mobile Star Map is a great option: dive into nebulas, study constellations and track the international space station from where you are or in the location you’re heading to next. Free, in-app purchases.

Up-to-the-minute cash rates are guaranteed on this iOS app, which updates 167 global currencies every six hours. Keep lists of your most-used currencies for instant access to accurate exchange rates and make use of the app’s handy calculator tool to convert costs immediately. Bonus: if you’re in a country where units of measurement are unfamiliar, Converter+ can also compute area, temperature, speed, coordinates, weight and petrol mileage measurements with ease. For Android users, Unit Converter offers 70 categories – from currency, to temperature, to discount and tipping amounts – making numerical conversions hassle-free. Free.

A great cup of coffee is only a click away with this app, which puts a directory of over 17,500 cafes in more than 100 countries in the palm of your hand. With a focus on specialty roasters and ‘hidden gem’ experiences, RSTRS unearths cafes, coffee shops and events around the world. Chat with other coffee enthusiasts; explore venues by country or city; and create lists of your favourites, complete with tasting notes, recommendations and reviews. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

The premise for this jet lag-focused app is simple and incredibly effective. Utilising the same neuroscience-backed strategies employed by Formula 1 drivers and astronauts to stay in peak condition while in transit, TimeShifter is designed to make managing your sleep routine and circadian rhythm a breeze. Simply input the time zones of your current and future destinations, then let the app advise you on the best times to expose yourself to sunlight, avoid caffeine, sleep and more. Each plan is tailored to you and your itinerary, cleverly taking into account any stopovers on your journey to minimise disruptions. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

Operating in more than 10,000 cities around the world, Uber is an app that many of us reach for to get around at home, but when you’re overseas, its handy functions unlock a world of possibilities. Of course, you can book two- or -four-wheel rides but you can also charter buses for bigger groups. Reduce your carbon footprint by opting for electric vehicles; reserve rides in advance (so you’re not left hanging when your walking tour ends); and link your Uber account to your Qantas Frequent Flyer number to earn bonus Qantas points. If you’re in a country where Uber isn’t active, opt for a local alternative — in China, try Didi; in Denmark, download the Taxa4x35 app instead. Solo female travelling in Australia? Shebah has only female drivers and you can rebook your favourite drivers if you hit it off. Free, in-app purchases. iOS and Android.

Let the power of locals and your fellow travellers direct you to the world’s best restaurants, cafes and everything in between with Yelp, which covers over 135 million businesses around the globe. Research your destination in advance and create collections of must-try eateries, shops and experiences, or make use of the app’s geomapping function by asking it to find nearby dining spots while on the ground – you’ll receive a list of venues with ratings and reviews as well as a map that shows you how far away it is. You can also book reservations directly in the app and order takeaway food when you’d rather stay in. Free. iOS and Android.

Find last-minute places to stay on the fly, organise the group getaway of your dreams and book chic urban escapes hosted by locals around the world. The Airbnb app puts over four million properties at your fingertips, allowing you to communicate with hosts for existing bookings and explore new options for later parts of your journey. Optimise your search with over 100 filters, including accessibility features or amenities (such as ‘dedicated workspace’, ‘swimming pool’ or ‘fireplace’) to find your ideal match. Ensure push notifications are turned on so you’ll get instant messages from your host, sent securely through the app’s chatting function. Free. iOS and Android.

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